Physics course catalog
2025-26 catalog edits in progress
MIKE AUGSPURGER, Assistant Professor
B.S., Rhodes College; Ph.D., University of Iowa
LEE CARKNER, Professor
B.S., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Ph.D., Pennsylvania State
JOSHUA DYER, Associate Professor
B.S., University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; Ph.D., Michigan State
NATHAN H. FRANK, Professor
B.A., Concordia College; Ph.D., Michigan State
JAMES VAN HOWE, Professor
B.A., University of Chicago; Ph.D., Cornell
JACKIE OPFER, Assistant Professor
B.S., University of California, Berkeley; M.S., Ph.D., University of Minnesota
WILLIAM PETERSON, Professional Faculty Instructor
B.S., Ph.D., University of Iowa
CECILIA J. VOGEL, Professor
B.S., Michigan State; Ph.D., University of Minnesota
Major in Physics
42 credits, including PHYS 200, PHYS 211, PHYS 212, PHYS 213, PHYS 366, PHYS 368 (or PHYS 367 and PHYS 421), 12 elective PHYS credits at the 300-400 level, and 10 credits of MATH-160, MATH-220, and MATH-260. CHEM 131 is recommended as a supporting course. Students may NOT major in both Engineering-Physics and Physics.
Major for Teaching Physics
28 credits, including PHYS-211, PHYS-212, PHYS-213, PHYS-360, PHYS-366, and PHYS-368 as well as two of the following: PHYS-300, PHYS 339, PHYS-313. See the Director of Secondary Education for more details. 100-level courses do not count toward the major. Required supporting courses (40 credits): ASTR-145; BIOL-130 and BIOL-140; CHEM-131 and CHEM-132; GEOL-101 and GEOG-105; MATH-160, MATH-220, MATH-230, and MATH-260.
Minor in Physics
16 credits, including 211, 212, 213, 366, and 368
Major in Engineering Physics
44 credits, including PHYS 200, PHYS 211, PHYS 212, PHYS 213, PHYS 366, PHYS 368 (or PHYS 367 and PHYS 421), ENGR-190, and 10 credits of 300-400 level PHYS, ENGR, and CHEM courses based on advising (excluding ENGR-315/315A), and 10 credits of MATH-160, MATH-220, and MATH-260.
Students are free to take any combination of 10 credits, but are typically advised to follow one of three engineering tracks: chemical, mechanical, or electrical. A student interested in mechanical or civil engineering would take ENGR-310, and PHYS-360, students interested in electrical or computer engineering would take PHYS-339 and PHYS-377, while students interested in chemical engineering would take CHEM-321 and CHEM-322.
Students may NOT major in both Physics and Engineering-Physics.
Grade Point Average Notation: All courses listed in the catalog as required courses for any major and/or minor, including those courses outside of the department or with a different subject coding, are considered part of the major and will count in the grade point average. Some departments may have additional grade requirements for the courses offered within their department. Recommended supporting courses that are optional and not required may also count in the major depending on the program. For more information see your department chair or the degree requirements for Bachelor of Arts and information on Majors/Minors.